Dredging bucket



B. L. FRANKUM lll DREDGING BUCKET 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ffl. wb2/4f.

Aug. 29, 1961 Filed July 29, 1960 l 5 h W f 0 6 a 4 4, 4 4 4| //f/ Aug. 29, 1961 B. L. FRANKUM n1 2,997,797

DREDGING BUCKET Filed Juiy 29, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

SARA/Ev 5E /TQANA'UMZZZ United States Patent O 2,997,797 DRE-DGING BUCK-ET Barney Lee Frankum III, 8336 Plainview St., Dallas, Tex., assigner of one-half to James A. Archer, Dallas, Tex. Filed July 29, 1960, Ser. No. 46,205 6 Claims. ('Cl. 37-54) This invention relates to a bucket of novel construcron for use with a dredge or excavating machine for lemoving mud, slush or the like from pits.

A primary object of the present invention is to provide t dredging bucket which can be emptied automatically y the dredge operator without the necessity of the operttor moving from his position on the dredge.

More particularly, it is an object of the present invenvion to provide a dredging bucket having novel `latch neans by which the bucket bottom may be unlatched to :wing open for dumping the contents of the bucket and :y which the bucket bottom will be automatically latched n a closed position, when the bucket returns to a dredging nosition in the bottom of a pit.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a iredging bucket which is filled by being rotated about the longitudinal axis of the bucket and while thebucket Jo-ttom is held latched in a closed position.

Various other objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafter become more fully apparent from the following description of the drawings, illustrating a presently preferred embodiment thereof, and wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a side `elevational view of a portion of a conventional dredging machine equipped with the improved dredging bucket;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged substantially central vertical sectional view of the bucket, looking in the same direction as in FIGURE l;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view corresponding to the lower |1et-hand portion of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view, taken substantially along a line as indicated by the line 4-4 of FIGURE l;

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged botto-rn plan view of the bucket, showing the bottom in a closed position;

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged horizontal sectional view through the bucket, taken substantially along a plane as indicated by the line 6-6 of FIGURE 2, and

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view, taken substantially along a plane as indicated by the line 7--7 of FIGURE 6.

Referring more specifically to the drawings, the dre ging bucket in its entirety and comprising the invention is designated gener-ally 1t). For the purpose o-f illustrating a preferred application and use of the bucket lll, a portion of the boom 11 of a conventional dredge or excavating machine is illustrated in FIGURE l and is provided at its upper end with a pulley or sheave 12 over which a hoisting line or cable 13 is trained. A guide or table 14 is fixed to and extends horizontally from a part of the boom 11 to support a journal member 15 through which an elongated rod 16 extends. The rod 16 is slidably and rotatably mounted in the journal 1S and extends loosely through an opening 17 of the table 14, as seen in FIGURE 4. A sprocket wheel 18 is disposed on the rod 16 and is positioned to rotate in a cavity 19 of the journal 15. The rod 16 has a keyway 26 extending substantially from end-to-end thereof in which a key 21, carned by the sprocket wheel 18, slidably engages, to allow the rod 16 to slide vertically relative to said sprocket wheel but to cause the rod to rotate with the sprocket wheel. A portion of an endless chain 22 is trained partially around the sprocket Wheel 18 and the 'assaut'.

Frsice iiights thereof pass over idler sprocket wheels 23, supported by the table 14, and downwardly through openings 24 of said table, to a suitable drive sprocket, not shown, of the dredge and by means of which the chain 22 is driven for rotating the sprocket wheel 1S and rod 16 in one direction. A swivel 25 connects the upper end of the rod 16 to the end of the hoisting cable 13 which depends downwardly from the pulley 12., above the table 14. The parts 11 to 25 constitute no part of the present invention but are merely illustrated to disclose a conven tional means for raising, lowering and rotating the bucket 10 about its longitudinal or vertical axis.

The bucket il? has a cylindrical side wall 26, a stationary top wall 27 and a bottom composed of a stationary portion 28 and a hinged section 29. The top wall 27 has a centrally disposed external socket 3d in which the lower end of the rod 16 is secured immovably, as by means of a fastening 31 which extends transversely through the socket and said rod end, for supporting the bucket 10 beneath the lower end ofthe .rod 16 and below the table 14, as seen in FIGURE l.

The stationary bottom section 26 constitutes substantially less than a half of said bottom and the hinged section 29 accordingly constitutes substantially more than a half of the bottom and is connected to the section 28 by a hinge 32 which extends along adjacent straight edges of the bottom sections 2S and 29 and which forms a chord of the bucket bottom.

A bracket 33 extends inwardly from a part of the bucket Wall 26 and is located above and adjacent a pant of the hinged bottom 29. A .latch member 34 is pivotally mounted on the bracket 33 by a pivot element 3S which is `disposed substantially parallel to the axis of the hinge 32. The latch member 34 is of -a modified crescentshape having a substantially semicircular rounded back and bottom edge 36. The pivot 35 is dis-posed substantially centrally with respect to said edge 36. The latch 34 includes a shoulder 7 which is substantially straight and which is disposed below the pivot 35' and which merges at its outer end with the bottom and yforward end of the edge 36. The latch member 35 at its upper end is provided with a forwardly extending projection or arm 3S Which is disposed outwardly with respect to the pivot 35 and the upwardly facing shoulder 37.

A rod 39 extends loosely through an opening 40 which is formed in the top wall 27, radially spaced from the socket 30 and above the arm 38. The rod 39 has a laterally turned lower end 41 which engages turnably through the arm 38 for pivotally connecting said rod tol the latch 34. A head 42 is detachably secured by a suit` 4able'fastening 43 to the upper end of the rod 39 and is disposed substantially above'the top wall 27. A compression spring 44 is disposed on the upper portion of the rod 39 between the head 42 and top wall 27. A stop collar 45 is adjustably secured to the rod 39 by a fastening 46 and bears against the underside of the top wall 27 to limit the extent that the rod 39 can be displaced upwardly by the spring 44 and so that in the fully raised position of said rod 39, as seen in FIGURE 2, the shoulder 37 will be disposed substantially horizontal or at right angles to the axis of the bucket 1li.

An arch shaped keeper 47 is secured to and rises from the hinged bottom section 29 and includes a top portion having a substantially flat downwardly facing bottom surface 48 and an upwardly facing inclined cam surface 49 which slopes away from the hinge 32. The keeper `47 is disposed so that when the hinged bottom 29' is in a fully closed position, as illustratedin FIGURES 2, 3 and 7, the upwardly facing shoulder 37 will engage the underside 48 for latching the bottom 29 in a closed position.

Stops 50 are secured to the underside of the stationary bottom portion 28 and extend across the underside of the hinge 32 and have free ends 51 disposed to engage the hinged bottom 29 for supporting said hinged' bottom in an open position at approximately a 135 angle to the stationary bottom 28, as illustrated in broken lines in FIGURE 2.

The hinged bottom 29, as best seen in FIGURE 5, is provided with two large openings 52 and 53 which are preferably disposed substantially in diametrical alignment with one another and substantially parallel to the hinge 32 and which are normally closed by flap valves 54 and 55, respectively. Said iiap valves are preferably formed of rectangular pieces of rubber larger than the openings 52 and 53 and are disposed on the upper side of the hinged bottom 29 over said openings, as seen in FIGURE 6. The flap valve 54, covering the opening 52, is secured by fastenings 56 to the hinged bottom 29 along the longitudinal edge of said valve 54 which is located remote from the hinge 32. The ap valve 5S is similarly secured by fastenings 57 to the hinged bottom 29, but along the longitudinal edge thereof which is located adjacent the hinge 32, for a purpose which will hereinafter become apparent.

In the operation ofthe bucket 10, the upper end of the boom 11 is swung to a position over a pit to be dredged and the hoist cable 13 is payed out for lowering the bucket 10. The bottom 29 is in its open broken line position of FIGURE 2 as vthe bucket is lowered. When the open bottom 29 strikes the bottom of the pit, the weight of the downwardly moving bucket will swing the bottom 29 upwardly from its broken line open position to its full line closed position of FIGURE 2. As the bottom 29 approaches its closed position the cam surface 49 ofthe keeper will strike the end of the rounded edge 36 which is located beneath the shoulder 37 to forcibly swing the latch 34 `clockwise about its pivot 35 from its full line to its broken line position of FIGURE 2 and against the pressure of the spring 44, to allow the top portion of `the keeper to clear said end of the rounded edge 36, so that the bottom 29 can assume its fully closed position. The spring 44 will promptly displace the rod 39 upwardly to turn the latch 34 counterclockwise and back to its full line position of FIGURE 2, so that the upwardly facing latch shoulder 37 will bear substantially flush against the downwardly facing keeper surface 48 for latching the bottom 29 in a closed position.

With the cable 13 slacked olf so that the bucket 10 and rod 16 are supported by engagement of the bucket bottom on the pit bottom, the chain 22 is driven in a direction for turning the rod 16 and bucket 10 counterclockwise, as viewed from above, or in the direction as indicated by the arrows 58 in FIGURES 5 and 6. The bottom portion of the bucket 10 will embed itself in the mud or slush of the pit bottom and as it is revolved the flap valves 54 and 55 will be forced upwardly to open positions as seen in FIGURE 7, and the mud and slush will be deflected upwardly through the openings S2 and 53 into the bucket 10. It will be noted that the flap valves 54 and 55 are attached along their leading edges to the bucket bottom, so that the trailing longitudinal edges of the openings 52 and 53 will be located adjacent the unsecured longitudinal edges of the flap valves so that the mud andy slush will readily deflect the flap valves upwardly to their open positions. This rotation of the bucket will cause the bottom portion 29 to function as an auger for embedding the bucket in Kthe pit bottom as the bucket is filled through the openings 52 and 53.

After the bucket 10 has been filled, rotation of th'e bucket is discontinued and the hoisting cable 13 is drawn in for elevating the rod 16 and bucket 10. As the bucket 10 commences to rise, the weight of the contents thereof will immediately return the valves 54 and 55 to their closed positions of FIGURES 2, 5 and 6 to prevent escape of the dredged material from the bucket during hoisting cable 13 is ythen again drawn inwardly to further elevate the bucket 10 and to cause the head or spring stop 42 to contact the underside of the table 14 for displacing the rod 39 downwardly from its full line to its dotted line position of FIGURE 2 for swinging the latch 34 to its released position, as seen in broken lines in FIGURE 2, so that the bucket bottom i29 can swing downwardly to its open position to allow the contents of the bucket to be discharged therefrom by gravity. The boom 11 is then swung back to a position over the pit and the bucket 10 is again lowered, as previously described, finto the pit to effect initial closing and latching of the bottom 29 preparatory to refilling said bucket,

The latch 34 is shaped so that it can readily turn from its full line to its broken line position of FIGURE 2,

.. while the bucket 10 is full of the material, not shown,

being dredged.

v Various modifications and changes are contemplated and may be resorted to, without departing from the function or scope of the invention as hereinafter defined by .A the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. A dredging bucket including a fixed top wall and a hinged bottom, means securing said top wall to a support for up and down and rotary movement of the bucket with the support, a latch, means pivotally mounting said latch internally of the bucket, a keeper secured to said bucket bottom and engaged by the latch for supporting the bucket bottom in a closed position when the latch is in an operative position, a latch actuator pivotally connected to and extending upwardly from said latch and slidably engaging through said top wall, spring means engaging and urging said latch actuator upwardly for maintaining said latch in an operative position, said latch actuator having an upper end, disposed `above the bucket and adapted to be engaged for displacing said actuator downwardly for swinging the latch to a released position out of engagement with said keeper for releasing the bucket bottom for downward swinging movement to an open position, said bucket bottom having inlet openings radially spaced from the axis of rotation of the bucket, and flap valves attached to an upper side of the bucket bottom and along leading edges of the valves with respect to the direction of rotation of the bucket and overlying said inlet openings to effect filling of the bucket through said vopenings when the bottom is latched in a closed position and the bucket is rotated and displaced downwardly.

2. A dredging bucket as in claim l, and stop means fixed to a part of the bucket and disposed to support the bucket bottom in an open position at lan angle of substantially less than to the closed position of said bottom.

3. A dredging bucket as in claim 2, said latch and keeper having coaeting cam portions for camming the latch to a released position as the bucket bottom swings upwardly to -a closed position to effect an automatic latching of the bucket bottom in a closed position. v

4. In combination with a dredge boom having a down wardly extending hoist means, a guide projecting outwardly from 'a part of said boom and through which a part of said hoist means slidably extends, and means for rotating said part of the hoist means in said guide; a bucket having an upper end, means securing the upper end of said bucket to said part of the hoist means for suspending the bucket therebeneath for reciprocating and rotary movement of the bucket with said part of the hoist means, said bucket having a hinged bottom, latch means carried by said bucket for latching the bottom in a closed position, |a latch actuator extending slidably through the upper end of the bucket having a lower end connected to a part of said latch means and an upper end disposed above the bucket and engageable with said guide as the bucket is elevated for releasing said latch means for downward swinging movement of the bucket bottom to an open position, and spring means engaging yand urging the latch actuator upwardly for moving the part of said latch means connected to the actuator to an operative position.

5. In a combination as deiined by claim 4, a lixed stop supported by said bucket and disposed to be engaged by said bottom when the bottom swings downwardly to an open position, said stop limiting swinging movement of the bottom to an are of substantially less than 90, and said latch means including coacting cam parts for camming said flirst mentioned part of the latch means to a released position yas the bwcket bottom is swung upwardly for automatically latching the bucket bottom in a closed position.

6 6. In a combination as dened by claim 4, and a valve controlled inlet in said bucket bottom for filling the bucket when the bucket is revolved and displaced downwardly with said bottom latched in a closed position and to prevent escape of the contents of the bucket through said inlet when the bucket is raised.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

